Press for forming collars, cuffs and the like for wear



Sept. 27, 1966 N. STURGES ETAL 3,275,204

PRESS FOR FORMING COLLARS, CUFFS AND THE LIKE FOR WEAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 6, 1964 TUE Sept. 27, 1966 N. STURGES ETAL PRESS FOR FORMING COLLARS, CUFFS AND THE LIKE FOR WEAR Filed April 6, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS Sept. 27, 1966 N. STURGES ETAL PRESS FOR FORMING COLLARS, CUFFS AND THE LIKE FOR WEAR Filed April 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qw a m? a w E N? H N w R (.IQ mm Fill. R QV N \m mm mmvi mm United States Patent 3,275,204 PRESS iron to o COLLARS, CUFFS AND THE LIKE non WEAR This invention relates to an improved press for forming garments for wear such as collars, cuffs and the like.

After the various panels which go to make up a collar have been stitched together, it is frequently desirable to add further stitching by way of decoration but, before this can be done, the collar must be pressed so that the decorative stitching, when applied, will be accurately positioned around the edge of the collar. Pressing immediately before the decorative stitching is applied has been done for many years and the mechanism for the operation has included a movable block which carries a flat metal former having a part of its periphery shaped identical to the fold of a collar to be pressed. A collar is positioned around the former and is drawn on by hand so that the shaped periphery of the former lies within the fold of the collar. The block is then moved so that the former and collar enter a metal receiver which has a shape complementary to that of the former. The receiver is heated by electrical elements and the fold of the collar is then pressed. Conventional presses for this purpose. such as that disclosed in Patent No. 2,553,194, have comprised a rigid buck, a rigid head, a pair of formers, a time-r, an ejection means and a trip switch.

This prior method of establishing the fold of the collar suffers from the disadvantage that, to result in an accurately foldedcollar, the receiver has to have the exact complementary shape to that of the former. This necessitates precision machining and if, as is normally the case, the fold is a complex curve, it is diflicult to make the former and receiver in exact register.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a press which obviates the necessity of accurately machining the receiver and having the former and receiver of exact complementary shape.

According to the present invention there is provided a press for forming garments such as collars, cuffs and the like for wear, including a stationary block and a movable block spaced from the stationary block in its normal position, said movable block being faced, adjacent the stationary block, with a layer of resilient material, means for moving said movable block towards and away from said stationary block between pressing and non-pressing positions, heating means for the stationary block, a former for the reception of a garment to be pressed and means for guiding the former to a position between the stationary and movable blocks.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a press table incorporating a press in accordance with the present invention; I.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective View of the press illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the press illustrated in 1 15s. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View of the press mechanism illustrated in FIGS 1 to 3; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram giving the layout of the 3,275,204 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 lce pneumatically operated components of the press according to the present invention.

In the drawings, it will be seen that there is a press table 1 on which is mounted a press 2 constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a control panel 3 for control of the pneumatic system for operating the press. As will be seen more particularly from FIGS. 2 and 3, the press includes a stationary block 4 and a movable block 5 spaced therefrom in its normal position and this movable block 5 is capable of being moved towards and away from the stationary block by a pneumatically operated ram 6. The stationary block 4 is made as a hollow metal casing and has within it an electrical heating element 7 for heating the lower face of the stationary block. The heating element 7 may be of well-known form and the temperature of the heating element may be varied by control 8 mounted on control panel 3. The heater may also have within its circuit an on-ofi switch 9 also mounted on control panel 3. The movable block 5 is faced with a layer of resilient material 10 such as natural or synthetic rubber or a synthetic plastics material such as foamed polyurethane. The ram 6, which provides movement to the movable block 5, is mounted within a lower casing 11 made of sheet metal. The lower casing 11 and the stationary block 4 are spaced apart by pillars 12 so that garments to be pressed may be moved to a position between the stationary block 4 and the movable block 5.

Although the invention envisages a press in which only one movable block and only one stationary block are provided, as will be seen from the drawings two such movable blocks 5 may be provided with a single stationary block 4.

Two formers 13 are provided, each being associated with one of the movable blocks and each former 13 is of metal construction, shaped to receive a shirt collar and is fastened by nuts 14 onto a carriage 15. The carriage 15 has two shafts 16 slidable within bushes and passing through a guide 17 Within the lower casing 11.

As will be seen more particularly from FIG. 4, the carriage 15 carries a plunger 18 which is spring loaded at 19. Mounted co-axial with the plunger 18 is a rod 20 which passes through the lower casing 11 and through a guide 21. Formed within the length of the rod 20 is a protuberance 22 between which and the guide 21 lies a spring 23. The rod 20 is capable of axial movement. A trip lever 24 is pivoted at 25 and the trip arm 26 thereof is pivoted at 27 and lies within the path of movement of protuberance '22. In FIG. 4, a downward movement of protuberance 22 will cause engagement of trip arm 26 to rotate the trip lever 24 about pivot 25 in an anti-clockwise direction thereby actuating switch 28. An upward movement of protuberance 22 caused by the extension of spring 23 will not move the trip lever 24 but the trip arm 26 will rotate about pivot 27 and allow the protuberance 22 to return to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Actuation of switch 28 allows pneumatic pressure to be fed to ram 6 for moving the movable block 5 towards and in a pressure position against sationary block 4.

Due to the mechanical arrangement described in relation to the rod 20 actuating the trip lever 24, it may be, in certain circumstances, that the protuberance 22 jams the trip lever 24 in its anti-clockwise position if the protuberance 22 comes to rest immediately opposite the trip arm 26. In these circumstances it is desirous to free the mechanism and this is done by spring loaded plunger 18. Pressure applied to the outer end of plunger 18 will move the rod 20 downwards in FIG. 4, thus disengaging the mechanism.

The pneumatic circuit of the press according to the invention is illustrated in block form in FIG. 5. An oilless compressor 29 is operated electrically from the mains and generates approximately 80 psi. Pneumatic pressure is fed in series from the compressor to a condensate filter 30 and a lubricator 31 and then to a pressure regulator 32 which regulates the working pressure at approximately 70 psi. In this manner the compressor is not working at full load. A gauge 33 is connected to the pressure regulator 32 and this gauge is mounted on panel 3. An electrical switch 34 is also mounted on panel 3 and this switch 34 is connected within the mains circuit to the compressor 29. Control of the pressure regulator 32 is effected by control 35, also mounted on panel'3.

Pneumatic pressure from the pressure regulator 32 is fed directly to two timers 36 and it will be appreciated that each timer is for one of the movable blocks 5. Each timer is provided with a bleed valve control 37 and these controls are positioned on panel 3. Each timer is connected viapipe 38 to its associated switch 28 and via pipe 39 to its ram 6 and in turn each switch 28 is connected view pipe 40 to the pipe 39. Also, the pressure regulator has a direct line 41 leading to the switches 28. For ease in assembling the pneumatic system, it has been split into two distinct parts separated by a junction board 42.

In operation, and prior to a garment being loaded on to the press, the formers lies in the withdrawn position illustrated in the drawings. The compressor is switched on by actuation of switch 34 and the heater is switched on by actuation of switch 9. The gauge 33 will indicate whether the correct working pressure is being developed by the compressor 29 and regulated by pressure regula- .tor 32. When the system is ready for operation, a garment is placed around one of the formers 13 and by hand the operator moves the carriage carrying the garment into the pressing position so that the former 13 lies between the movable block and the stationary block 4.

For this operation, the carriage is moved to its fully forward position whereby the spring loaded plunger 18 contacts the spring loaded rod 20 and the protuberance 22 operates lever 24 and energises switch 28. Actuation of switch 28 allows pneumatic pressure to be fed to ram 6 which will move the movable blocks to its pressing position thereby pressing the garment. The resilent layer will be deformed and conform exactly to the configuration of the garment to be pressed regardless of its shape. Actuation of switch 28 also feeds pneumatic pressure to timer 36 and after a preset interval, the timer will allow pneumatic pressure to be exhausted from the ram which will be returned .to its inoperative position, withdrawing the movable block 5 from its pressing position. This releases the former 13 and the garment and due to the inclination of the shafts 16 from the horizontal and the pressure exerted by springs 19 and 23, the former 13 will be ejected at least-partly from between these two blocks 4 and S. It is then a simple matter for the operator to withdrawn the former completely and remove the pressed garment from the former. It will be appreciated that both formers and their respective carriages operate independently and while one former, with its associated garment, is being pressed the other former may be loaded with a separate garment. If desired more than two formers with associated carriages may be provided on one press.

A press constructed in accordance with the present invention obviates the necessity inherent in previous constructions for the former and the receiver to be accurate- 1y machined. With the present invention the existence of a layer of resilient material on the movable block allows any shape of former to be employed and adequate pressing of the garment will be effected. Although a pneumatically operated system has been described above, the system my be operated hydraulically or electrically.

What we claim is:

1. A press for forming garments such as collars, cuffs and the like for wear, including a stationary block, a movable block spaced in its press-open position from said stationary block, a casing member supporting said movable block, a layer of resilient material attached to said movable block and forming a facing therefor and opposing said stationary block, said layer substantially covering the upper surface of the movable block, means for moving said movable block towards and away from said stationary block between pressing and non-pressing positions, heating means for said stationary block, a former for the reception of a garment to be pressed, a carriage on which said former is mounted, said carriage being supported on shafts slidablein said casing member, means for guiding said former to a position between said stationary block and said movable block and switch means adapted to be operated by movement of said carriage to release power to press said stationary block and said movable block together when said former lies between them.

2. A press for forming garments such as collars, cuffs and the like for wear, including a stationary block, a movable block spaced in its press-open position from said stationary block, a casing member supporting said movable block, a layer of resilient material attached to said movable block and forming a facing therefor and opposing said stationary block, said layer substantially covering the upper surface of the movable block, means for moving said movable block towards and away from said stationary block between pressing and non-pressing positions, heating means for said stationary block, a former for the reception of a garment to be pressed, a carriage on which said former is mounted, said carriage being supported onshafts slidable in said casing member, means for guiding said former to a position between said stationary block and said movable block, switch means adapted to be operated by movement of said carriage .to release power to press said stationary block and said movable block together when said former lies between them and ejection means by which said former is at least in part ejected from between said blocks when said blocks are moved apart.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,896,934 2/1933 Beattie 223-2 2,553,194 5/1951 Hovell Q.23-2 2,619,267 11/1952 Voight 22352.1 X 2,639,843 5/1953 Liebowitz 2232 2,703,939 3/1955 Clarke 3841 2,706,587 4/ 1955 Frankel 2232 2,909,307 10/1959 Hunt et al. 223-2 3,105,313 10/1963 Johnson 3866 I ORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Exa'miner. 

1. A PRESS FOR FORMING GARMENTS SUCH AS COLLARS, CUFFS AND THE LIKE FOR WEAR, INCLUDING A STATIONARY BLOCK, A MOVABLE BLOCK SPACED IN ITS PRESS-OPEN POSITION FROM SAID STATIONARY BLOCK, A CASING MEMBER SUPPORTING SAID MOVABLE BLOCK, A LAYER OF RESILIENT MATERIAL ATTACHED TO SAID MOVABLE BLOCK AND FORMING A FACING THEREFOR AND OPPOSING SAID STATIONARY BLOCK, SAID LAYER SUBSTANTIALLY COVERING THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE MOVABLE BLOCK, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MOVABLE BLOCK TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM SAID STATIONARY BLOCK BETWEEN PRESSING AND NON-PRESSING POSITIONS, HEATING MEANS FOR SAID STATIONARY BLOCK, A FORMER FOR THE RECEPTION OF A GARMENT TO BE PRESSED, A CARRIAGE ON WHICH SAID FORMER IS MOUNTED, SAID CARRIAGE BEING SUPPORTED ON SHAFTS SLIDABLE IN SAID CASING MEMBER, MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID FORMER TO A POSITION BETWEEN SAID STATIONARY BLOCK AND SAID MOVABLE BLOCK AND SWITCH MEANS ADAPTED TO BE OPERATED BY MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE TO RELEASE POWER TO PRESS SAID STATIONARY BLOCK AND SAID MOVABLE BLOCK TOGETHER WHEN SAID FORMER LIES BETWEEN THEM. 